Discover Cagayan Valley’s hidden treasures!

Cagayan Valley is more than just Palaui Island hopping and beach bumming. These are the awesome but lesser known locations in Cagayan that will help satisfy your adventurous soul:

Duba Cave: I think a more appropriate name for this cave is The Bat Cave. This is a submerged cave that has an enchanting appeal. We had to use ring floaters led by our guide to enter this cave. Since the water is high at this time of the year, our guides deemed it unsafe to take us to the end of the cave which has a waterfalls. We waited until 5pm to witness the circadian flight of the bats which was really amazing! We had the best seat in the house for a really close encounter with their flight as we waited for our guide to retrieve my gopro which fell in the 5-meter deep water inside the cave. All is good. 🙂

Blue Water falls and cave: I lost count of the numerous cascading waterfalls that we passed as we headed to the Blue Water cave. As soon as we reach a picture-perfect spot we would overlook a falls one after the other and we reacted with increasing awe and excitement each time.

The cascading falls ends at Blue Water cave. Well, actually it extends inside the cave. Most parts of the cave, if not all, is submerged in flowing water with some areas having strong current and and some have still water that only god knows how deep. We managed to reach the area of what they call “Olympic Pool” (water basin literally as big as an olympic pool) which took us about an hour out and back.

There’s this small waterfalls hole on the at the Olympic Pool wall which has to be climbed/entered that leads to the cave’s 1st pitch. You’d have to do a seemingly endless swim and a 13.5m vertical climb before reaching this area (appx. 2hrs) — this is what we’ll go back for on a summer because currents are too strong during non-summer months!

Lipit Canyon: I have a theory that this was a former cave that was literally cracked open from the ceiling! The narrow stream is walled with formations just like what you see inside caves! This is a 5km stretch that has to be swam (flowing water, some parts has strong currents) to reach the caves at the end. They have around 5 caves in the area. Again, it is best to do this during summer.

Sierra Cave: this lesser known cave just sits beside Callao Cave. This is not really open to public though… The cave’s entrance and exit has locked gates which is only accessible to SMOC (Sierra Madre Outdoor Club) members. Thanks to the hospitality and generosity of the SMOC president and senior member, we were privileged to enter this cave. (Without us even asking for it! Yey! It seemed like having bonus level in a computer game. Hehe).

They have closed this cave to avoid having the same fate of the dead (but still wonderful) Callao Cave. They plan to open this in the future, but with closer monitoring and control of tourists.

It does seem that summer is the best time to visit Baggao, but during non-summer months the cascading water falls is in full glory! They might not be as appealing as they are during the rainy season. So might as well got there now and go back for the summer! 🙂

There are different tour packages offered by CV Traventures for a hassle-free Baggao tour. Please coordinate with SMOC – Ma’am Karen, who will tirelessly help you out and respond to all your queries. 🙂
we’ve been renting transpo since it is more convenient. They don’t have a standard rate for this, but they offer the best price they could so be generous. (Wag na tumawad. Support local. Nahihiya pa sila magsabi ng price sa amin. Don’t forget to include their meals (and the guides’ as well) because they pick you up really early in the morning and wait for you the whole afternoon.
during your dinner at Country Inn, ask to have your breakfast served at your desired time in the morning and order already for your packed lunch. (Look for Chris – sobrang maalaga. Hehe)
it is best to do caving in Baggao during the summer, but if you also want to enjoy the waterfalls go there during non-summer months. (Pwede naman balikan depending on the activity that you want to do)
when you contact the referred persons please mention my name and that we’re the group who went there during the APEC Holiday. 🙂
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